Laundry agitator



United States Patent O f 3,296,840 LAUNDRY AGI'IA'IOR .lames A. Tichenor, St. .fosepln Mich., assigner to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Fiied Sept. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 487,560 7 Claims. (Ci. 63-134) This invention relates to laundry apparatus and in particular to an agitator construction for use in agitating laundry in a laundry machine.

Laundry machine agitators having full skirts are well known in the art and agitators having flexible vanes with no skirt have been used to a limited extent. Agi tators with full skirts have been found to limit the torodial liquid flow desirable in 4a wash bath during agitation. The torodial action has been found to be improved `by utilizing flexible vaned agitators without skirts, but undesirable lclothes abrasion has been found to be caused by such exible agitators. The agitator of this invention is characterized by an upstanding center post having a plurality of vanes extending transaxially outwardly therefrom, the vanes having a rigid portion adjacent the center post and a flexible portion outwardly of the rigid portion, the rigid portion limiting the iiexure of the flexible portion, and a radially short, semi-skirt subjacent the vanes and connected thereto to further limit the ilexure of the flexible portions of the vanes. Thus, the present invention comprehends a new and improved laundry machine agitator eliminating the disadvantages of the known agitators in a novel manner.

A principal feature of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of a new and improved laundry machine agitator.

Another lfeature `of the invention is the provision of such an agitator providing eicient laundering of the `fabrics while effectively minimizing wear thereof in the washing cycle.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a laundry agitator providing improved efficiency in torodial flow thereby providing a highly desirable improvement in the tumbling, or roll-over, of the laundry fabrics in the washing cycle.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a laundry agitator having a new and improved vane construction with a portion thereof having controlled relatively high flexibility.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of such a laundry agitator having a new and improved semi-skirt structure providing a preselected rigidiiication of a portion of the vanes while permitting other portions thereof to have a preselected relatively high flexibility.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a laundry agitator comprising a structure formed of a single piece of plastic material and defining a center post, a plurality of vanes circumferentially spaced about the post, each of the vanes comprising a 4thin wall having an inner edge portion connected to and extending lengthwise of the post along at least approximately onehalf the length of the post, and a semi-skirt extending outwardly from the post subjacent and connected to the vanes along less than approximately oneahalf the radial length thereof, the connection of the edge portions of the vanes to the post and semi-skirt strengthening and limiting the fiexure of the vanes.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a diametric vertical section of a laundry agitator embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a -bottom plan view thereof; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof.

3,296,840 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a laundry machine agitator generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a post 11, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending vanes 12, and a semi-skirt 13. The post 11, vanes 12 and semi-skirt 13 are preferably integrally formed and are herein formed of a single -piece of suitable plastic material, such as molded polypropylene.

Post 11, as shown in FIGURE l, comprises a hollow tubular element having a cap portion 14 of generally conventional construction. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the cap portion 14 includes a central small diameter tubular portion 15 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending ribs 16 for supporting the tubular portion 15 coaxially within the cap. As shown in FIGURE 2, the tubular portion 15 may be suitably interiorly iluted as at 17 for mating with a splined agitator shaft S.

Post 11 defines a relatively rigid axial element of the agitator. The vanes 12 are joined to the post 11 at a juncture 18 extending upwardly from the lower end 19 of the post to a portion 20 spaced subjacent the cap 14. Each vane as best seen in FIGURE 1 includes an inner gene-rally triangular portion 21 and an outer generally rhomboidal paddle portion 22, and as shown in FIGURE 2 tapers in thickness outwardly from the post 11.

Semi-skirt 13 comprises a downward and radially outward extension of the post lower end 19, having an arcuately flared annular connecting portion 23 joined to -post portion 19 and a distal frustoconical end portion 24. The outer diameter of the end portion 24 is preferably less than the maximum radial dimension of the upper vane portion 21 as ,at the outer end 25 thereof defined by the juncture line 31 between the vane portions 21 and 22, and herein the semi-skirt 13 has a radial extent of slightly greater than one-half the radial extent of the vane inwardly from portion 25. A radially inner section 26 of the vane is joined to the semi-skirt 13 along a juncture 27. Thus, juncture 18 yserves to strengthen and rigidify the upper inner portion 21 of .the vane 12, and the juncture 27 serves to strengthen and rigidity the lower inner section 26 of the inner vane portion 21.

Outwardly from the distal end 24 of the semi-skirt the vane is defined by a lower edge 29 of the vane 12 which is an outward extension of the yfrusto-conical distal portion 24 o-f the semi-skirt. The distal end 28 of the paddle portion 22 is spaced outwardly from the distal end 24 of the semi-skirt a distance substantially greater than the outward extension of the semi-skirt, whereby the paddle portion 22 defines a relatively flexible vane extension providing improved laundering efficiency. The height of the vane por-tion 22 measured vertically between the lower edge 29 and an upper edge 30 thereof is preferably approximately one-quarter the axial height of the entire vane 12 or less.

As hereinbefore noted, it is a feature of this invention to provide an agitator providing high washing efliciency while yet effectively minimizing fabric abrasion. One factor indicative of washing efficiency is the amount of toroidal action provided for rolling over, or tumbling, the clothes load. A measure of the toroidal action is the number of times an item of laundry appears at the surface of the wash bath during a washing operation. In a comparative test with an agitator having a vane con- 4figuration similar to the vane configuration hereof but having a full skirt, and with a ten-pound test load washed in accordance with a normal machine cycle, the agitator of this invention provided an average of twenty-two clothes roll-ovcrs, as opposed to two for the agitator with a full skirt.

While washing efficiency of an agitator is effectively improved by the use of flexible vanes, this has hereto- `fore been at the expense of increased clothes wear due to abrasion. By limiting the ilexure of the flexible portion of the agitator vane, this abrasion problem is effectively minimized. The semi-skirt 13 provides a desirable controlled limitation of the flexure of the flexible portion 22 of vane 12 by providing a rigid structural support perpendicular to the bottom edge 29 of the vane. In ad-dition, the semi-skirt serves to deflect fabrics outwardly away from the base of post 11, where in laundry apparatus without the semi-skirt they have been caught between the base of the post and the washing tub. The agitator of this invention is positioned in the tub, or container, B with the bottom edge of the semi-skirt and vanes in closely spaced, substantially parallel relationship with the -bottom of the tub. This close spacing 4further effectively minimizes the chance of abrasion by effectively precluding fabrics being rubbed between the bottom of t-he agitator and the bottom of the tub.

In operation, the agitator is suitably reciprocally rotated about its vertical axis A to reciprocate the vanes 12 in an arcuate path for agitating surrounding laundry liquid and laundry therein (not shown). The improved vane configuration as discussed above, by virtue of the controlled resilience thereof, provides a highly improved ecient, low wear washing of the laundry.

The agitat-or is extremely simple and economical of construction as it may Ibe formed of a single molded piece of plastic as discussed above. The semi-skirt 13 provides substantial rigidity of the vanes, while yet providing for the `highly desirable flexible arrangement of the outer end portion 22. The junctures 18, 27 and 31 between the respective elements of the agitator structure impart high strength to the agitator, hereby effectively assuring long Itrouble-free life while yet permitting the -highly desirable controlled flexibility of the vane configuration as discussed above.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and yarrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is dened as follows:

1. A laundry machine agitator comprising a structure formed of a single piece of plastic material and dening a center post, a plurality of vanes circumferentially spaced about said post, and a semi-skirt at one end of said vanes, at least one of said vanes comprising a thin wall having an inner portion connected to and extending lengthwise of said post, and a highly flexible paddle portion extending outwardly from said inner portion to below said inner portion, said semi-skirt extending coaxially outwardly from said post at said one end of the vane, said semi-skirt being connected to said inner portion and extending toward the paddle portion less than the radial extent of said inner portion, the connection of said inner vane portion to said post and to said semi-skirt strengthening and controlling the flexure thereof while permitting said paddle portion to have free flexibility.

2. The laundry machine agitator of claim 1 wherein said paddle portion has a lower edge coextensive with the lower edge of the semi-skirt.

3. The laundry -machine agitator of claim 1 wherein said paddle portion extends angularly downwardly to substantially below the level of .the bottom of the semiskirt.

4. The laundry lmachine agitator of claim 1 wherein said paddle portion is arranged to have at least approximately one-half its vertical area disposed below the level of the bottom of the semi-skirt.

5. The laundry machine agitator of claim `1 wherein the semi-skirt is radially enlarged at each of said vanes.

6. The laundry machine agitator of claim 1 wherein the semi-skirt has a radial extent at said vanes at least approximately twice that of its radial extent intermediate said vanes.

7. The laundry machine agitator of claim 1 wherein the radial extent of said semi-skirt from said post is approximately one-half of the radial extent of said inner portion from said post.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,782,684 11/1930 Gibson 68-133 2,161,604 6/1939 Watts 68-133 X 2,199,027 4/1940 Little 68-134 2,383,783 8/1945- Dunham 68-133 X 2,726,529 12/1955 Clark 68-133 3,112,632. 12/1963 Walton 68-54 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,053,614 9/1953 France.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner'. 

1. A LAUNDRY MACHINE AGITATOR COMPRISING A STRUCTURE FORMED OF A SINGLE PIECE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL AND DEFINING A CENTER POST, A PLURALITY OF VANES CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED ABOUT SAID POST, AND A SEMI-SKIRT AT ONE END OF SAID VANES, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID VANES COMPRISING A THIN WALL HAVING AN INNER PORTION CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF SAID POST, AND A HIGHLY FLEXIBLE PADDLE PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID INNER PORTION TO BELOW SAID INNER PORTION, SAID SEMI-SKIRT EXTENDING COAXIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID POST AT SAID ONE END OF THE VANE, SAID SEMI-SKIRT BEING CONNECTED TO SAID INNER PORTION AND EXTENDING TOWARD THE PADDLE PORTION LESS THAN THE RADIAL EXTENT OF SAID INNER PORTION, THE CONNECTION OF SAID INNER VANE PORTION TO SAID POST AND TO SAID SEMI-SKIRT STRENGTHENING AND CONTROLLING THE FLEXURE THEREOF WHILE PERMITTING SAID PADDLE PORTION TO HAVE FREE FLEXIBILITY. 